Skip to content

This Site is Intended for Healthcare Professionals Only

Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

DHSC creates new NIHR Research Delivery Network

DHSC New NIHR RDN
This additional funding follows the success of the NIHR-funded projects in the past. Photo: iStock

Growing the amount of commercial clinical research will be a key strategic ambition for the new network 

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has created a new NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) to support the successful delivery of health and social care research in England.


The network, which will start operating from next year, will play a critical and active role in implementing government policies.

It will support in implementing the Life Sciences Vision, the Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery vision, and policy for life sciences research and development.

The new network would be mainly working on growing the amount of commercial clinical research as its key strategic ambition.

Also, NIHR RDN will be responding to the findings of the Lord O’Shaughnessy review, which set out a clear blueprint for how the UK can return to its global leadership role.

The DHSC’s statement read: “It will increase capacity and capability across the health and care research system, supporting the successful delivery of high-quality research across England for the benefit of patients and the public.

“It represents a significant government investment to bolster the UK’s position as one of the best places in the world for innovative companies and investigators to carry out research.”

Along with portfolio monitoring, the network will focus on identifying and resolving strategic challenges to ensure the research system is able to achieve its ambitions around innovative study methodology.

The new network will provide funding to study sites and ensure that it is being used to support research and development activities.

As a new organisation, the NIHR RDN will have new processes, structures and governance, and will work across the health and care system, with staff in all health and care settings.

It will work across the health and care system, with staff in all health and care settings, to support the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of research.

The University of Leeds will be the single host of the new NIHR RDN Co-ordinating Centre (RDNCC) from 1 April 2024.

From October 2024, they will be joined by 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs), hosted by NHS organisations across the country, to make up the NIHR RDN.

More For You

Astrazeneca Office Building  Outlook

British Medical Journal has found data discrepancy during the crucial clinical trials of AstraZeneca's heart drug ticagrelor.

iStock

Top medics question trials of AstraZeneca's anti-clotting pill

The effectiveness of anti-clotting pill ticagrelor is now under a cloud, with some experts claiming that AstraZeneca misreported data when the trials were conducted more than a decade ago.

Sold as Brilinta, the pill was approved for use on the NHS in 2011 after trials claimed it could prevent one in five deaths after a heart attack, and the generic versions of the drug are scheduled for this year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Boots pension dispute

The Pensions Ombudsman has begun an investigation into the decision by the Trustees of Boots Pension Scheme to remove members' option to retire on an unreduced pension at age 60.

iStock

Pensions Ombudsman probing Boots pension dispute

The Pensions Ombudsman has begun an investigation into the decision by the Trustees of Boots Pension Scheme to remove members' option to retire on an unreduced pension at age 60.

According to the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA), the ombudsman has decided to take a ‘lead case’ approach, as several members have been affected by the issue.

Keep ReadingShow less
23andMe

More than 150,000 UK residents had their personal information taken by hackers during a data breach in 2023.

iStock

UK watchdog fines 23andMe £2.31m for data breach

Genetic testing firm 23andMe has been fined £2.31 million by a UK watchdog over a 2023 data breach, when the personal information of seven million people across the world was stolen.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said the California-based company, which later filed for bankruptcy, failed to put adequate measures in place to secure sensitive user data.

Keep ReadingShow less
Henry Gregg, new Chief Executive of the National Pharmacy Association.
Henry Gregg
Henry Gregg

Community pharmacy voices need to be ‘heard really loud’, new NPA chief tells Pharmacy Business

Henry Gregg, the new chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), believes community pharmacies have a right to have insight into discussions relating to the pharmacy funding contract.

Currently, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) solely negotiates the elements of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England.

Keep ReadingShow less
Patient care

The NHS said the benefits were "too small to justify the additional cost"

NHS rejects Alzheimer's drugs shown to delay early-stage of disease

Two new treatments for Alzheimer's disease will not be offered on the NHS due to high costs and "too small" benefits.

Donanemab and Lecanemab have been hailed as breakthrough treatments for slowing down the symptoms of early-stage Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia.

Keep ReadingShow less